Turkale arraigned for murder

MAN — The grandmother of Aydin Toler is speaking out on the abuse that the 2-year-old endured during his short life and the man accused of Aydin’s murder was arraigned today in Magistrate’s Court.

Nicolas Turkale, 25, of Amherstdale, was charged with Murder and Murder of Child by Custodian before Magistrate Leondard Codispotti.

According to the criminal complaint, Turkale “did physically shove the victim, a two year old juvenile, into a door frame causing a skull fracture that ultimately resulted in the child’s death.” The complaint says that Turkale has provided care for the victim for approximately two years.

Since Turkale has been accused of a felony offense for which the penalty is life in prison, on the Circuit Court can grant and set bail. He is being held in the Southwestern Regional Jail until his appearance in Circuit Court.

In an interview with The Logan Banner, Aydin’s grandmother, Wanda Walls, says that the child been the victim of child abuse many times, and that several reports to the Child Protective Services were not investigated.

“Last year he came for a visit and he had black and blue hand prints on his face,” said Walls. “I took him to the hospital and they said that the only way that could be done was if someone just picked him up and swung him.”

Walls said that Aydin’s mother, Robin Toler, gave conflicting reports on how the injury occurred.

“She gave five or six different excuses and none of them fit,” said Walls. “They didn’t even call the state police, the hospital called Child Protective Services (CPS).”

CPS gave Walls temporary custody of Ayden until a hearing on the charges against Toler.

“The judge gave her a three-month improvement period with supervised visits,” said Walls. “At the end of the three month improvement period, she got full custody of him.”

Walls said that before that incident, Toler shared joint custody of Aydin with his father, Jeremy Walls.

Walls said that she was told conflicting reports on how Aydin was injured Tuesday.

“We were told at first that he fell off the kitchen counter. Then we were told that he was in the bathroom peeing and fell off the sink,” said Walls. “Then she said he was brushing his teeth and fell. But at his (Turkale) arraignment today, he admitted to slamming him into the door facing.”

Walls said she has several pictures of Aydin with bruises that were taken during visits to his father and that the CPS was notified each time.

“We have reported and reported and reported,” said Walls. “They (CPS) just ignored it. I told them last year on the courthouse steps after they gave her full custody of him that they just signed his death warrant. She may have not physically killed him, but she is just as guilty because she let it happen.

“That was the sweetest little baby. I don’t care what kind of mood somebody would be in — upset or mad — that little smile and the love in his eyes… I don’t see how anybody could do something like that to a child. No baby deserves that.”